From Yonkers Newswire Journalist Brian Harrod.

YONKERS HISTORY: Empire City Raceway was built in 1899 by William H. Clark, an attorney with investments in the copper industry.

He loved racing and owned bother trotters (horses bred for harness racing) and thoroughbreds. He intended to use Yonkers track primarily for trotters but after winning the Brooklyn Handicap with his horse Banaster in the summer of 1899, he requested dates for a thoroughbred meeting for the fall of 1900. Clark died in early 1900 before racing officials approved a thoroughbred meeting for October of 1900.... https://www.facebook.com/groups/YonkersNewswire/posts/3531735503750669/